From The Frontcover Of 'Guru Nanak's Philosophy Of Politics' By Gurdip Kaur Brar

It is one of the commendable works on Guru Nanak, particularly because this aspect of Guru Nanak studies was untouched so far.

Guru Nanak was a great per­son of his time. On the one hand, he ruthlessly confronted the contem­porary politics of oppression from the ruling elite as well as from priestly class, poignantly and boldly. He was determind to do away with the oppressive mechanization of the society. On the other hand, he released such forces and directed the psyche of the contemporary man in such a way that a new social structure should come in. He wanted to create a society wherein people from all castes, religions, races can live together comfortably with mu­tual understanding and acceptance. He was a true humanist, in word and deed, of par excellence. He was really a pro-human crusader discarding all barriers.

A number of scholars, in dif­ferent languages, have worked on the contribution of Guru Nanak. They have tried to bring out his views on religion, morality, philoso­phy, ethics etc. Guru Nanak had visualised a political set up based upon his own theory of politics is something which sounds new to the ears in the academic circle. But the author of this book, after undertak­ing a hard work, has been able to draw a sketch regarding the theory of the politics and based upon it the vision of society of Guru Nanak.

Looking from the political angle, this book deals with various aspects of Sikhism. It is a meaning­ful treatises about the environment conditions at the time of Guru Nanak. She also has drawn out a sketch about the State of the mind of Guru Nanak. What a man is ? What he should be ? what is his destiny ? And how he can improve upon it ? Some points which attract the divi­sion of Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak was equally con­cerned about the human destruction. The tragic events which happened in the process of his contemporary His­tory, deeply influenced his psyche. One of the most devastating act, that different human groups interact be­tween themselves in that of war. War brings an all round destruction and misery if it is fought without any prin­ciple it become more diabolical. Guru Nanak had seen the destruction caused by the invasion of Babar on Punjab. He recorded it in his bani also. Here, in his bani, he has his views about the ethics of war particu­larly, in relation to the suffering of the common men and women caused by war.

Dr. Gurdip Kaur has given a beautiful piece of research in the form of present volume. It is a com­mendable work. The collection and analysis of the collected material has been done with enormous amount of labour and keen sense of under­standing. She has the capacity, in abundance, to analyse and argue her case. It is a very valuable contribu­tion to the literature on Sikh Studies.